Track: Tools for Sustainable Manufacturing and Service Systems Design, Management, and Performance Measurement

Abstract

The proceeding paper seeks to define and discuss product and process design. In this research work, product and process design will be discussed in regard to feminine hygiene products, namely sanitary pads. This research work will discuss the ways in which the product and process design of sanitary pads can be improved in an effort to become more environmentally friendly, especially in terms of their disposal. The company that will be referred to regarding the sanitary pads will be Non-Organic single-use sanitary pads. This paper will also utilise +A Organic Pads as a form of comparison, as a way to showcase the fact that is possible for companies to manufacture purely organic or environmentally conscious products. A research methodology will also be presented in order to present the methods used to gather the information within this paper. The results and discussion will follow, which will report on the information found, and the discussion will explain and interpret the results, as well as place the information found in context. Recommendations will also be provided as to how companies like Non-Organic pads, can improve their product and process design to be more eco-friendly especially in the disposal stage of their sanitary pad products. Finally, the paper will be concluded, and a references page can be found at the end.

Keywords
Product and process design, Feminine hygiene products, Sanitary pads, Environmental sustainability.